New charges brought against Berezovsky

Russian Prosecutors have demanded self-exiled tycoon Boris Berezovsky be arrested in absence on new fraud charges.

The businessman, who has had political asylum in London since 2003, is accused of embezzling $US 13 MLN from SBS-AGRO bank in Moscow in 1997. It is alleged he bought real estate in France with the money.

The court hearings will start on August 7.

Russia has repeatedly asked Britain to extradite Berezovsky.

He is also wanted in Brazil on charges of money laundering.

Recently, Berezovsky's beceme one of the key figures in the on-going Aleksandr Litvinenko case as he was a close ally of the former security officer who was poisoned in London last November.